PORT ANGELES — Police dog Kilo nabbed a Clallam County man who was wanted by the state Department of Corrections after he fled police custody Tuesday into thick woods south of the William R. Fairchild International Airport.
Guy L. Charles, 45, was arrested early Tuesday morning for escaping community custody — which means he didn’t follow the terms of parole or probation — and a Clallam County Superior Court warrant for contempt of court.
He is expected to make a Clallam County Superior Court appearance today.
At 6:36 a.m. Port Angeles police arrived at the 3100 block of Critchfield Road and saw two men.
“Charles then took off running,” said Detective Jason Viada.
“Officers, detectives troopers and deputies set up a containment perimeter.
“K-9 officer Kilo and the officers who are trained in tactical tracking followed the scent and spore through wooded areas until the suspect was apprehended. He was caught after having a struggle with Kilo and the officer.”
Charles was treated for minor injuries at the scene and one of the police officers was also treated for scratches and bruises he got while running through thistles and brush, Viada said.
He declined to release the officer’s name.
Police also arrested the man who was with Charles, James Coutlee, 35, for an outstanding traffic warrant, Viada said.
In addition to allowing Kilo to sniff the man out of the woods, police were using some new training in tracking, said Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.
The Police Department had two officers who have achieved basic human tactical tracking status, one who has achieved the next level up and Officer Kevin Spencer, who has military background in tracking.
“We were successful in capturing the suspect despite the very difficult bushes and stickers to get through,” Smith said.
“Our officers were all visibly scraped up, but the tracking makes an exciting skill to add to our menu of things we do.
“This is in large part to how lucky we are to hire Spencer and to have a partnership with the [Clallam County] Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Glenn Lightfoot.
“We are lucky to have the training to refine what is an ancient art form.
“This is an exceptional example of what we can do through group tracking.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
